Incident Overview
A single-engine airplane departed Jezqazğan at 1139 LT on a mail flight tour with several en route stops in Kara-Kengir, Kurgazyn, Amangeldy, Sary-Kengir, Sary-Su and Dzhetukoshur. The aircraft carried two pilots and a load of 368 kilograms of mail. Weather conditions were considered good upon departure.
Sequence of Events
Two hours later, while leaving Kurgazyn, weather conditions were poor. The captain did not want to continue but was forced by the head of flight. While cruising to the north, the crew encountered poor visibility with ceiling down to 120 meters, foggy conditions, and later some blizzard. Flying too low, the aircraft struck the ground and crashed in a snow-covered field located 34 km north of Urozhayny.
Crew and Rescue
The captain was killed upon impact. The copilot was slightly injured. He attempted to establish contact with ATC but all radio systems were down. He took refuge in the main cabin, ate candies and nuts, and stayed in such conditions (outside air temperature near zero) for about five days before being rescued. He died from hypothermia at hospital on January 13.
Official Findings
Probable cause: The decision of the crew, ATC, and head of flight to continue the flight was incorrect considering the deterioration of the weather conditions. It was determined that the crew did not receive any weather information prior to departure as there were no information available for this area. The accident occurred in below minimums weather conditions.